Harold Battiste
| Harold Battiste | |
|---|---|
Battiste in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Harold Raymond Battiste, Jr. |
| Born |
October 28, 1931 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | June 19, 2015 (aged 83) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, arranger, record producer |
| Instruments | Saxophone, piano |
| Years active | 1957–2015 |
Harold Raymond Battiste, Jr. (October 28, 1931 – June 19, 2015) was an American music composer, arranger, performer and teacher. A native of, and later community leader in, New Orleans, he is best known for his work as an arranger on records by Sam Cooke, Joe Jones, Lee Dorsey, Sonny and Cher, Dr. John, and others.
Born in New Orleans, he grew up in the Magnolia Projects. He attended Dillard University, earning a B.S. in music in 1953 and becoming a proficient saxophonist, pianist, and arranger. He formed his first group, with Alvin Batiste (clarinet) and Edward Blackwell (drums) while at university.
His first success as a studio arranger was with Sam Cooke’s "You Send Me" in 1957. In 1961, he initiated the first African American musician-owned record label, All For One, better known as AFO Records. Within a few months, they produced a million-selling hit single, Barbara George’s "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" (AFO#302). The label also released the first album by Ellis Marsalis, The Monkey Puzzle. Battiste's other professional contributions as a producer and arranger for studio, film, stage and television include Joe Jones' "You Talk Too Much", Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya", and Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe". Battiste introduced audiences to New Orleans artist Mac Rebennack as Dr. John, and produced his earliest albums.
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